Last week, we ran a story about the soon to be launched Concave football boot. Boy, did it cause a storm. We had comments coming out of our ears while industry message boards were full of little else in the days after we posted the story.
At the time, a lot of what was written was speculation and conjecture, based on just a couple of images that had found their way on to the Web.
But now, Concave has gone public and, as the saying goes, they are putting their money (and it looks like they’ve spent big on this) where their mouth is.
Looking at the blurb, it’s clear that Concave has concentrated on 3 particular aspects – power, accuracy and protection, three aspects which are pretty important to footballers.
Concave Football Boots
Upper
Having been furnished with a pair of the Concave football boots at Footy Boots HQ, we were keen to take a first hand look at the technology advances that Concave boasts.
The Concave football boot’s most revolutionary feature is the convex shape of the upper, which of course matches that of a football and has been developed to ‘cup’ the ball on contact.
This component on the upper also increases the surface area of the sweet spot, which Concave state is up to four times bigger than usual.
The football boot upper, part leather, part synthetic, has an interesting lace system too. The laces are covered by the Concave component, but they only use two eyes. When we tried the football boots we were pleased to find that this construction was most effective and the football boot felt snug and secure on the foot.
Something we regularly comment on at Footy Boots is the football boot protection, or lack of it, to the metatarsal. Concave have considered this infamous injury in their design and the upper contains an aptly named ‘MetaGuard’. The ‘MetaGuard’ is a flexible layer of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) and reinforced cushioning foam composite. We couldn’t feel the ‘MetaGuard’ when the football boot was on, but its good to know its there.
Soft Ground Soleplate
7 screw in studs, with a configuration to even pressure across the sole and a single blade in the forefoot mid section.
On the sole, the boot is equipped with a balance stabiliser. In the middle of the sole, this stabiliser helps balance the front and rear of the foot, an area that again can cause metatarsal injury, the stabiliser prevents too much flexibility here.
Summary
We’ll be trying the Concave football boots out in match and training situations, but we did give the football boots a quick run out. In the brief knock up we were impressed by the football boot comfort and support. However, what stood out is that we felt like we’d been on mild steroids when kicking in power situations. More on that when we fully test the Concave football boots.
We liked the look of the football boots, a stylish colourway, and we were very impressed with how the football boot looks to be made. As always we pulled and squeezed and bent the boot and there was no signs of weakness - again we’ll find out more on the quality when we test them with more exertion.
Concave are looking for ambassadors, presumably in the Premier League (and no, the Carlton Cole football boots you may have seen were just a mock up – he hasn’t signed with them to our knowledge), but to add some credibility to the project, they have contracted the former Scotland and Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish.
We’ve lined up a Q&A with the Concave ‘techies’ and hope to tie up with Kenny Dalglish shortly to get a legend’s take on the football boots.
Price: £99
Availability: August 22, 2008
Colour: Black/Red/Silver
Sizes: 6-12
Tell us what you think of the new Concave Football Boots
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July 11th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I so wish I could try these boots, now!
July 11th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
They sure seem to be putting a lot of effort into these boots and by what i’ve heard so far it seems worth it. Not a bad looking boot but it seems packed with the latest technology, i’d love to give them a try!
July 11th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Sounds like a good boot so far. I’m interested how well that concave design will impact shooting accuracy and power. Not sure if I like the stud pattern though, hopefully they’ll come out with a firm ground boot. Does anybody know if this will be available in North America?
July 11th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I believe that the design concept is great. Although in order to sell the boot they not only need to focus on the technology, but the boot style,colour also the pricing. If i was the designer i would create a boot with all the concepts needed to improve the players performance and how good the boot looks. I would sell at a price that is not too unaffordable for punta’s, but at proffitable price for the manufacturer. This gets the boot out around the world. Once the boot is recognized, start to increase the price simply because people will like the boot and will want to by them at higher prices.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:40 am
what an awsome concept!!!!! well done concave!! cant wait to get my hands on a pair!!!! and the looks of the boot are tough as!!!!
July 12th, 2008 at 3:39 am
I would love to hear Kenny D’s spill! I can imagine the Concave producers definately have something extrodinary in their corner regarding the respect of Sir Kenny’s backing of this revolutionary product.
This boot has looks, “mild steroids” (as far as power), to quote another!
Just the idea that it offers protection to the metatarsals is fantastic.
I tip my hat to these guys at concave, it looks like they have covered sooo many aspects and have come up with a winner!
July 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
what a boot, he idea of the thing on the front wa proply the best idea for a football boot. and it gives you 30% mor power i just cart wait to get a pair
July 13th, 2008 at 4:06 am
Looks gimmicky to me, very similar to the Lotto Zhero Gravity’s. Also, Footy-Boots’ article is quite one-sided…
July 14th, 2008 at 4:19 am
check ‘em out here:
http://www.concave.com/
looks good!
July 15th, 2008 at 11:18 am
No coincidence that your paying lip service to the lead sponsor for your Boot Awards - choosing to promote partners in such a way questions your impartiality as a footy boot resource.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Agree someway of what Oliver said. Too much enthusiasm of something is not yet in your hand. Looks already old to me, old concept, and the arch aspect of the last is a limit for players. Good for run but not for kick. Better play football before talking!
August 10th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
this is very very good boots
:)
August 16th, 2008 at 10:34 am
well worth £99 dont you thinik?!
August 16th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
ya im sure they will be available in n.america. the company are based in canada. i hear carlton cole will be wearing them
August 17th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
aparently these are meant to be the next predatars!!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
yeah i think your right mate!!!! these look to be the next craze in football boots and from the reports so far its good to know at least they really work!!!!!!!
August 20th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Sky Sports’ Soccer AM has done a testing and review, scoring the boots 8/10 overall.
Check out the video at:
http://www.concave.com/blog
August 28th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
My mate has these boots, there awful, the square front of it makes a good first touch impossible with the rebounding of at all angles, i do NOT reccomend this boot, i recomend Umbro Speciali League Boots
September 9th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Bought these boots at the weekend quality the ded cumfy and top quaility leater boss alround boots.
September 17th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I have the boots and they are awesome!!! Much better feel than the predators. Take a few hours getting used to though.
September 18th, 2008 at 12:47 am
my team have tried these to see if they work for kids they rock but we didnt get to keep them
September 20th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
yeah im back and im thinkin bout buying these and otta Q? can u change the sutds on these?
September 20th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
i have these boots in firm ground and they are amazing thy definately improve your accuracy and power without a doubt and porbably the most comfortable boots i have worn so far.
September 26th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I hope you have a patent for your boot because because you maybe playing with fire!!!!!!
September 29th, 2008 at 3:10 am
does anyone know how much these cost in U.S. currency and where i could gettem
September 29th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I tested these boots when they were still prodo types.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:29 am
yeah, concave are patented tight.
the big names tried to buy em out from the Australian inventor of the concept a while back (and when they couldn’t crack the patent either surprise surprise started producing boots with a similar aesthetic… only without the functionality).
Its not that concave boots look like adidas this or nike that, it’s that the big names knew this was coming and have prepared to cushion the release.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:27 am
These boots are amazing…a must buy for anyone.makes your game improve by at least 25%.just hope they bring out the new colours soon!the black red n white are a bit dull for me!
October 1st, 2008 at 8:29 am
oh and carlton cole is signed and many more just not offical yet
October 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
o ya think that these boots will be for sale in GERMANY? Can I buy them from Germany?
Where is a shop for Concave boots?
pmb
October 8th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
i had a pair sent to me from the u.k.! bloody hell what a boot!!!!!!!!!!! this boots are the most comfy i have ever had, and i have had most top shelf boots. as for the increase in power and accuracy it is all true,amazing stuff finally a boot that does what it CLAIMS!!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
GUYS GET THESE BOOTS!!!!No joke played my first match on sunday with them and they felt great so comfortable felt like i was playing in my runners.scored in all but pity was with my head but boots were unreal made me pass further and alot easier with the sweet spot.
Sweet spot takes a few shots to get used to since it increases your power but well worth it.
OH AND MAJOR POINT…i’m usually a size 10 in nike n adidas but wear a size 11 in concave.smaller fit.
…… SAVAGE BOOTS,half our team has em already!!!
October 16th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Nice boot. Broke a bone in my foot last year. So i said id give them a lash. Really like the feel of them. Not at all heavy. They are not made for speed.they are made for power Found them a bit tight. im a 10 normally but prob could have gone with a bigger size. Would recommend them definately but maybe go a size bigger
October 19th, 2008 at 4:44 am
for all that don’t know yet, these are at soccer.com and, if you’re in the UK, go to JJB sports to find them.
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
What about the leather? I read that it was a calf skin, which I have always found to be inferior to K leather. I would like to try the boots out, but I do not like hard or stiff leathers. Weird that they would put all the tech into these boots and then skimp on the leather.
October 25th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Im a bit disappointed they dont seem to have the option to personalise them. If you spend a lot of money on boots like these, i’d quite like my (nick)name on them. It both looks flash and stops anyone nicking them!
October 28th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
bought a pair of concave boots six weeks ago worst mistake to make these boots are very poor. In wet weather the boot becomes very heavy and water logged.The boot to wear feels heavy even witout rain, the boot material is very stiff with very little play.It is very difficult to get a feel of the ball in this boot it is all a bit clumsey feeling..I advise not to waste your money on this boot it promises everything but delivers nothing at all..very disappointing boot…Now replaced for the nomis glove boot, fantastic boot all round
October 30th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
THESE BOOTS ARE EXTREAMLY COMFORTABLE (GLOVE LIKE FIT)! I AM PLEASED WITH THE FACT THAT IT LEAVES LESS PRESSURE ON THE BALL OF YOUR FOOT IN SOFT GROUND CONDITIONS! ALTHOUGH THE NAME CONCAVE IS NOT WELL KNOWN I CAN DEFENTLY SEE THE LIKES OF ADIDAS AND NIKE ROBBING SOME IDEAS OFF THEM IN THE FUTURE! AS FOR LOOKS I THINK THAT THESE BOOTS ARE A BIT LIKE MARMITE YOU ETHER LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM! I THINK THEY ARE QUALITY! AND A SOLID BOOT………… GET SOME!
November 15th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
where can you buy this boots in the net
November 16th, 2008 at 8:00 am
You can order them from JJB. Try this link:
http://www.jjbsports.com/mens-football-boots/concave-fg-football-boots/prod_161911.aspx
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:04 am
LOL idiot look at the pic at the left its the shoe with FG
December 6th, 2008 at 12:48 am
i take back everything i said,, a load of shee ite. DONT WASTE UR TIME OR MONEY. ITS LIKE WEARING BREEZE BLOCKS ON YOUR FEEL….ALRIGHT IF UR A BUILDER,, NOT A FOOTBALLER..
December 7th, 2008 at 5:30 am
My dad helped organise these boots, they are frivken quality.
ive played competitive games with the first models, brilliant to play with!
December 14th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
these boots are my best boots by farr! they definetely improve shooting power and accuracy!!
December 17th, 2008 at 3:57 am
I received a pair of these boots in the mail. They are amazing! i feel much more in control, and many people may think that the padding above the laces looks ridiculous, but i am actually amazed that a cleat that has that on it doesnt way much more than vapors do. I recommend these boots to everyone!
December 25th, 2008 at 6:02 am
they have the boot in kangaroo leather, just costs a little more so they’re marketing the mid priced boot
January 14th, 2009 at 1:38 am
i have been a football boot sales man for 6 years, i have seen all the new boots come and go, and have sold 1000s of pairs off boots to all demographics. now it could just be me but arnt these boots just adidas f50’s in a jacket? with a bit of umbro sx thrown in. who are concave gonna get to whr them?? thats what will determain the success of the boot. i think they are a really nice design and should be aimed at the footballer who doesnt follow the crowd..
February 25th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
omg, these boots are so fake!!! all that cup shape boot is rubbish. my agook pros are total awesome!and i want them
May 20th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Really looking great. They are always been my favorite boots. Thanks for posting such a beautiful info. Hope you would continue doing this.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 pm
GREAT BOOT . TAKES A LITTLE TIME BREAKING THEM IN ESPECIALLY OVER THE TOES.SMALL FITING SO GO A SIZE BIGGER THAN NORMAL. ONLY NEGATIVE IS THE LACE EYELET IS A POOR DESIGN FIRST PAIR BROKE ON SECOND MATCH MAYBE CONCAVE WILL ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:48 pm
yeah they might have a sweet spot but if you miss it it will go in a completely different direction because the sweet spot is like a lump
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:09 am
not heard anything about these for ages hav they gone belly up as i don’t even see the boots in any of my local jjbs